Up for sale, a 1955 Gibson J-50 in excellent condition, complete with the original chipboard case. A golden age example of Gibson’s quintessential dreadnought model, this J-50 was produced in the first half of 1955, retaining the smaller pickguard seen early in the decade. This Gibson also benefits from a professional neck reset and new carved bone saddle.

Traditional tonewoods include a spruce top, Honduran mahogany back and sides, a one-piece Honduran mahogany neck, and a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge. Sound simply leaps from this instrument, with a woody percussive cut and ample projection. This dreadnought offers exquisite detail, with great note attack and notable power to the low end, yielding the soft growl inherent to mahogany. The trebles are full-sounding and bouncy, with a sweet midrange push. Weighing 4lbs 1oz, this J-50 benefits from a professional setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 12-53 bronze strings and easy-playing action.

Neck Specs:

• Wood: Honduran Mahogany
• Shape: “Baseball bat” C, measuring .900” 1st fret, 1.015” 9th fret
• Fretboard: Brazilian rosewood, dot inlay
• Frets: Slender "banjo," leveled/crowned, faint wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-2
• Scale Length: 24 3/4”
• Nut: 1 11/16”, nylon
• Tuners: Kluson Deluxe “no-line” strip (new buttons)
• Serialization: W-prefix Factory Order Number translates to 1955 production

Body Specs:

• Wood: Spruce, Honduran mahogany
• Bracing: X
• Bridge: Brazilian rosewood, carved/compensated bone saddle (modern)
• Plastics: Tortoise pickguard
• Marquetry: Ambered binding, simple rosette

This is a well-kept J-50, and the gloss nitro lacquer finish is 100% original with no touch-up or overspray, exhibiting broad checking across the body. Cosmetic wear is limited to restrained pick wear along the soundhole, faint buckle worming central to the back, and some minor dings on the body as a whole. The smooth nitro gloss on the neck profile is nigh flawless, and there is a shallow, professionally-addressed repair along the treble-side headstock wing.

The original faux alligator chipboard case is included, along with a vintage strap.